The Legacies of Brigadier Station

by Sarah Williams

  Abbie wrestled with the belt and button of Lachie’s jeans. He was so hard when she got him free, she was in no doubt of how he felt about her.

  “I want to be inside you.” His ragged voice undid her.

  “I want that, too, but first.” She raised a mischievous eyebrow at him before pushing him onto the bed and hovering over his hips. She captured him in her mouth and swirled her tongue around his tip. With a groan, his fingers threaded through her hair, urging her deeper, and she obliged with a hungry need. She teased him toward the edge, her hands rubbing and stroking his base until he started to squirm. Sitting up, she reached for a condom and rolled it onto his throbbing hardness.

  He lifted her on top of him and shifted into place before pushing inside, filling her in the most exquisite way. When he began to move, it took everything she had not to come right then. He was so hard and thick. Her hands on his chest, her hips moving up and down, she met his gaze and tried to show him everything she was feeling. How happy he made her. How much pleasure she gave him.

  His muscles rippled as he gripped her hips, guiding her movements, speeding her up. Abbie cried out as the delicious friction sent her over the edge. Lachie bucked with his release before pulling her down on top of him.

  She pushed away the whisper of doubt in the back of her head, and focused on the sound of his breathing. The rise and fall of his chest under her cheek. Lachie had a tenderness, a kindness he didn’t usually let show.

  He might be a proud, outback man, but he was her man, and she liked him just the way he was.

  Chapter 20

  Abbie sat on the veranda overlooking the brown paddocks of Brigadier Station, filling her lungs with clean, fresh, morning air. These last few days staying on the property with Lachie and Harriet had been some of the happiest of her life.

  She smiled as Lachie stepped through the door and walked towards her. He was dressed in low-slung faded jeans, his open shirt revealing a fine line of inky hair which ran from his waistband and curled around his neat belly button before trailing toward his chest. The pale bronze skin of his torso stretched smooth over taut, well-developed muscles.

  “Morning.” He stood with his arms wrapped around her from behind, hugging her protectively as he kissed the top of her head.

  She leaned into him and sighed. “What’s on today’s agenda?”

  “Hannah wants to help me finish the treehouse.” His breath was warm on her ear. Lachie had asked Abbie’s permission before telling Hannah his plans to build her the treehouse. He’d been so excited about making her something with his own two hands. “It’ll be her private place,” he’d said. “My brothers and I built one when Noah was about her age, and we played in it all the time. Until Dad pulled it down when we were away at boarding school.” The light in his eyes had faded while talking about his father.

  Abbie had agreed so long as it wasn’t built too high off the ground, and there were no nasty nails sticking out or other construction hazards that could cause injury. Lachie and Hannah had spent all day yesterday working on it together, and when Abbie had asked to see it they had refused, telling her it would be a surprise.

  “She asked me if she could live in it,” he said. “It made me think that we should give her a room of her own.”

  “She has a room here,” Abbie said. Hannah was currently still asleep in the spare room next to theirs. The room her Uncle Darcy had used until moving to Arabella Plains.

  “Yeah, but it’s not very girly. I was thinking we could paint it and buy some new furniture. Get her to choose some pretty sheets, that kind of thing.”

  Just when she thought she couldn’t love him anymore, Lachie said something like that. “I think Hannah would love a pony themed bedroom.”

  She turned in his arms, wanting to see him. It was the warmth that filled his face when he looked at their daughter, the joy that sparkled in his eyes when he laughed, and the affection he showered on them without any care of what anyone thought of them that made her so happy things had worked out this way. “If Hannah gets her own room, maybe I could add a few things to your?”

  He brushed a kiss over her nose. “What did you have in mind?”

  “Hm, maybe some new sheets and a pretty mat for the floor.”

  He nodded. “You can do whatever you want. I even think we should move some of my clothes out of the wardrobe so you can put yours in there.”

  She looped her arms around his neck. “You want to give me space in your wardrobe? You must really like me.”

  “Nah, I don’t like you.” He narrowed his gaze. “I love you, Abbie.”

  She looked into his eyes and saw in them the love he’d declared so plainly.

  “I love you too.” Nothing had ever been so right. Of course they were meant to be together. Would she ever stop feeling this much love for him? She doubted it, as he bent to kiss her. And then all she could think about was Lachie.

  Lachie checked the sheets fully covered the treehouse one more time as he heard Harriet and Abbie approach. With her wind-tousled hair and dressed in faded farm clothes, he’d never seen Abbie look more beautiful.

  Hannah held his hand as she bounced beside him. Her Akubra was perched at an angle on her head. “Do you think she’ll like it?”

  He kneeled down next to her and straightened the hat. “I reckon she’ll love it almost as much as you do.”

  Hannah giggled and Lachie straightened to greet the women. “Welcome to the unveiling.”

  Harriet looked on eagerly. “Come on then. I’m not getting any younger.”

  Abbie nodded at him and he reached over and tugged on the sheets, revealing the pale wooden treehouse with the varnished wooden stairs and arched window frames.

  “Wow.” Abbie studied the building for a moment before Hannah took her hand and led her inside. It only stood a metre off the dirt and encircled the old gum tree near the chicken coup.

  “I can bring the chickens in here when I want to play with them,” Hannah said, brushing her hand across the windowsill.

  “As long as the chickens don’t poop in here,” Abbie said, gazing at his workmanship. “It’s incredible.”

  Lachie moved closer to her. “We just need to get some furniture. Maybe a little kitchen so she can pretend to cook.”

  “Oh, and are you going to have tea parties together?” She threw him a smile.

  “Of course. Isn’t that what daddies do with their daughters?” he said, his heart swelling. He would happily have tea parties with Hannah and let her paint his face with makeup if that was what she wanted. Hannah would get all the attention she needed and then some. He loved playing with her and spending time with her. It didn’t matter what they did.

  Chapter 21

  The city wasn’t so bad, Lachie thought, as they strode down the busy, wide lane of Queen Street. Everyone he passed had their heads down, focused on where they were going and what needed to be done. In the country, people had time to stop and chat. Everyone knew everyone.

  Townsville hadn’t been this busy. The northern Queensland town had always struck him as being just big enough for some night life and a change of scenery. But the towering concrete buildings and traffic noise of Brisbane was something else. He supposed he could see the appeal in a short visit, but he knew he couldn’t live here. The pollution and noise was enough to send him running. Give him the outback any day.

  He glanced sideways at Abbie and wondered if she thought the same. Her body was tense, and she gripped Hannah’s hand tightly. Was she scared she’d lose Hannah if she let go? It was certainly possible.

  “Here it is.” Abbie pointed to the restaurant where they were meeting her parents.

  They walked inside and after giving her name, they were shown to their seats on the balcony.

  “Wine list.” The waiter passed the leather-bound folder to Lachie.

  Abbie reached over and pushed the menu back at the server. “No alcohol thanks. Just water.”

  Lachie threw her an appreciative glance. S
he looked good all made up. Her swept-up hair exposed the elegant line of her neck and called for him to explore its smooth contours. And as for her mouth, the pinkish hue highlighted the full sweep of her lips and reminded him of all the talented things she could do with them.

  “Can we go to Australia Zoo?” Hannah asked as they chatted about all the touristy things they could do during their short city visit.

  Abbie pushed a strand of her daughter’s hair behind her ear. “That’s in the Sunshine Coast, and we only have a few days. Why don’t we go to the museum and see the dinosaurs?”

  Hannah shrugged. “Dad said he’d take me to Winton to see the dinosaur trail.”

  Lachie grinned. “It’s actually very good. They found real fossils out there.”

  “Besides,” Hannah continued, “he’s the one who’s never been here before. What do you want to do?” She looked up at him with shinning blue eyes, the exact same as his own.

  Lachie leaned back and scratched his cheek. “I would like to go to a movie. Haven’t done that in years.”

  “Yes.” Hannah squealed. “Which one? There’s a new Disney movie I really want to see.”

  He looked to Abbie, who smiled and nodded.

  “Sure, squirt.” He leaned in close. “Do they still sell popcorn in cinemas? The really buttery, salty stuff?”

  She nodded enthusiastically. “You can get lots of flavours now. I like caramel.”

  “There are your grandparents,” Abbie said as Adam and Judith approached. After hugs were exchanged, they sat down and turned to Lachie.

  “It’s so nice to see you again. How are you enjoying the city?” Judith asked.

  Lachie smiled back. “It’s great. I can see why you like it.”

  “Oh, we don’t come into the city very often. We have a house by the river, which is nice and peaceful. You really should be staying with us.” Judith turned to her daughter.

  “No, Mum. I told you, we wanted to stay in the city so we were close to everything.”

  “Okay.” She exhaled. “Do come for dinner one night though.”

  “We’ll see.” Abbie faced Lachie and rolled her eyes so only he could see. Abbie had told him all about her parents and their plans for her and Hannah. He liked them as well as he could after their brief encounters but believed whatever Abbie said about them. He hoped they liked him and would continue to support their relationship. That was the whole reason for this trip, after all.

  “So why the trip out anyway?” Judith asked.

  Abbie shuffled in her seat. “We have some news. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before, but Lachie is Hannah’s biological father.”

  Her parents’ mouths dropped so low they almost hit the floor.

  “What?” Judith said. “Is that why you went out there?”

  “No.” Abbie gestured to her daughter. “I’ll tell you all the details later. We just wanted to tell you in person that Lachie’s her dad and that we’re dating.”

  After a short pause, Judith turned to Lachie. “Congratulations. It must have come as a bit of a shock.”

  “Yeah, it did. A good one though.” He put his arm around Hannah’s shoulder, and she snuggled in for a hug. “I couldn’t be happier.”

  Adam chuckled his deep, hearty laugh. “So the mystery is finally solved.”

  “I’m so glad it’s him.” Judith patted her daughter’s arm, and Lachie noted the look of understanding that passed between them.

  “Me too,” said Abbie, and she turned to meet his gaze.

  “Me three,” said Hannah, with the biggest smile stretching across her pixie face.

  As hard as she now looked, Abbie couldn’t see the appeal of the city anymore. Once this was the only world she’d wanted to belong in, and now she found it somehow lacking. Being back in the city hadn’t made her wish she still lived within its sophisticated embrace. All it had done was reinforce that she’d changed and now wanted different things. She liked being in the country where it was warm and welcoming, and replete with community spirit. That was the life she wanted for her daughter and the life she wanted for herself.

  That night, in the peaceful confines of their hotel apartment, after Hannah was sound asleep in her bed, Lachie pulled Abbie into his arms. His hands framed her face and his mouth found hers. Her lips parted, her hands gripped the back of his neck, and then there was nothing but urgency, heat, and need between them. She entwined her hands around his nape and moulded herself against him. In Lachie’s arms was where she belonged now.

  When he ran his palm up and along her delicate spine, she shivered. Her own hands snuck beneath his shirt, and he couldn’t contain his groan as her fingertips trailed across his hip and stomach.

  “God, I’ll never get enough of you,” he said, his hands tangling in her hair as she pressed herself against him and her mouth met his.

  Her fingers flicked down his shirt buttons and when she pushed the cotton off his shoulders, he had all the answers he’d need. She had no intention of stopping.

  He lifted her into his arms and carried her to her bed. As he laid her down, their gazes met. She’d never seen his eyes look a more brilliant blue or appear so luminous. She kissed him again and lost herself in the beauty and warmth of the only man she’d ever want.

  Chapter 22

  A few weeks after returning from the city, Abbie found herself being blindfolded. She squeezed her daughter’s hand, the other one groping around in the dark. “Don’t let me trip over.”

  “It’s not far,” Hannah assured her as they walked further away from the house.

  “Why do I need a blindfold?” Abbie raised her hand to remove the fabric from her eyes.

  “Mum, it’s a surprise. Don’t ruin it.” Hannah’s insistence had Abbie dropping her hand to follow blindly.

  Unable to see, her other senses were working overtime. Spring was a spectacular time in the outback. The temperature was rising, and Harriet’s garden was blooming with bright colours and fragrant smells. She could smell perfume from the flowers mix with the earthy country air.

  Finally, Hannah stopped her, and Abbie stood awkwardly for a moment. “What’s going on?”

  Then she felt Lachie’s heat and smell in front of her. She would know that scent anywhere.

  He stepped forward, cupped the back of her head, and kissed her. Her response was instant. She fitted herself against him and wound her arms around his neck. Never would she get enough of his kisses, of his love.

  His mouth left hers to trail kisses down her throat. She moaned and groped at his hair, loving the thickness of it in her fingers.

  Then, Lachie released the knot of the blindfold and she blinked open her eyes.

  Sitting on the grass in front of her was a table and two wooden chairs. It was decorated with a white cloth and covered with flowers, twinkling fairy lights, and all her favourite foods. Crackers and round white cheeses, dried apricots, almonds, olives, and bread sticks all lay temptingly arranged.

  “What’s all this?” She stepped forward to better enjoy the delicacies in front of her.

  “Happy birthday, Abbie.” Lachie stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, snuggling into her neck.

  Abbie stroked his arms contentedly.

  “Do you like it? I helped,” Hannah said, skipping around the table in her best pink and white dress.

  “It’s beautiful. What did I do to deserve this? To deserve both of you?”

  Lachie unravelled himself from her, and she took in his clean-shaven appearance. His crisp white shirt looked new, and instead of jeans he wore black trousers, which looked freshly ironed. She hadn’t even known Brigadier Station had an iron.

  Lachie leaned down and said something to Hannah before they both turned conspiratorially to Abbie.

  Then Lachie reached out and took one of her hands. Hannah took her other.

  “Abigail Forsyth, you are the woman of my dreams, the mother of my child.” His voice was choked with emotion, and she watched him struggle to keep it in
check, all the while her own heart thumped loudly.

  Then he sank onto one knee and looked up at her. “I love you. You have no idea how much. I never want to be anywhere but with you and Hannah.”

  Hannah placed her spare hand on his shoulder and looked up at her. “Will you marry my daddy?”

  Abbie couldn’t speak. Tears trickled down her cheeks. She was overcome by emotion.

  Lachie put out his hand and presented her with a silver ring. “Abbie? Will you be my wife?”

  She nodded through her tears and went to them, hugging them together and kissing both their cheeks. Hannah squirmed away and started chanting, “She said yes, she said yes.”

  Abbie laughed, then turned serious eyes back to Lachie. “Are you sure?”

  “Are you?”

  “Yes. I am. I love you.”

  They rose together, their mouths tightly pressed.

  Abbie knew in her heart that they brought out the best in each other and would always be there for support and comfort.

  She was in love and optimistic for their future. They would make a life out here, together.

  Brigadier Station was where they belonged, now and forever.

  Chapter 23

  Lachie sat alone on the verandah. The sun was setting over the flat horizon. He could see Abbie playing with Hannah in the front paddock.

  Her blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail to reveal the smooth pale skin of her nape. He’d memorised every delicate contour and satin-soft curve of her body. He knew he would love her deeply until the day he died.